The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-11-03
PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
What II Good and What II had for ths
Average Man to do.

what II Good and what II had for the
Average Man to do.
am a strong believer in physical
culture, but physical culture is sone-
thing entirely different from outdoor
sports as they are carried on at present.
Americans do not take enough exercise.
Many patients that come to the doctor
need outdoor exercise more than they
do medicine. As some one has said.
the dyspepsia from which man suffers
is oftentimes more in his legs than in
his stomach. The great difficulty with
our sports is that they develop one set
Of muscles at the expense Of the others.
A man who trains for . speciality Is
trained only in the parts Of the body
brought chiefly into play in that par
ticular sport or recreation. A tennis
player trains in one way, runner in
another. while b0atman goes through
an entirely different course from either.
Each Of these athletes is strong in one
direction, but he has neglected general
muscular exercises for the sake Of de-
veloping special locality. It will be
found that the man who is physically
strong in special sport is weak in
some part of his body. A man, for
instance, who intends to be . runner
will so train as to develop the muscles
Of his legs; but he will reduce the
weight of his body above his legs in
order to carry less weight.
Pedestrianism is wholesome when IN
dulgcd in for pleasure, but is bad in
contests. The professional pedestrian
finally becomes thoroughly broken up;
the stomach and general system are
exhausted by too much exertion.
Rowing is one Of the best exercises il
indulged in moderately. but an oars
man can row in contest until entirely
exhausted and not know it until he is
taken from his boat paralyzed. 50 to
speak.
Base ball is full of danger. especially
to the pitcher. So true is this that the
base ball pitchers arm. as well as the
tennis arm are. recognized in the nledi-
cal profession as special diseases. The
exercise in base ball is very violent,
and sooner or later causes overstrain.
Tennis is q violent exercise. and IS
liable to be carried too far.
Running is too much Of an Outburst
to be Of service In general way, and
is only good on account Of tho previous
training necessary to follow it up. It
carries its own remedy with it in the
natural giving out Of the legs before
the rest Of the body is exhausted.
Training should bring up the general
physical status to q point that will en-
able it to endure its utmost and with
just little to spare for the push Of the
urgent moment. There should be just
enough strength left to make the finish
better than the start-to break the rec
ord of the individual. SO to speak. and
leave him in better physical condition
than before. The sensible and physio-
logical way for man to take outdoor
sport is acting on medical authority, to
develop by special exercises the parts Of
his body that are weak. II man takes
any pride in . Systematically rounded
physique he should give his whole at
tcntion to the organs that are weak
It is surprising to me that horseback
exercise is not INDUCED in more than it
is. Many young men spend enough
money on their vices or follies 70 enable
them to buy and keep horse. ! would
suggest that for those who can not own
q horse, riding clubs might be formed.
Lot the horses be used by members oi
the clubs just as boats are used by boat
ing clubs. The expense of keeping the
horses. under such conditions, when
divided up among members, would be
| small, and the horseback exercise could
be varied with the moro vigorous sports
in which most young men now indulge.
In that way the strength Of the body
would be more equalized.
I do not know Of any outdoor
exercise so suitable for men as the
sports Of the field. Hunting is a health.
iul and beneficial sport. There is just
enough excitement about It to make
the exercise you take beneficial. While
you are walking you are thinking
about..some thing Of interest; while you,
body is being exercised your brain gets
q stimulus. Hunting is good for the
we'll and good for many who are sick.
I have known invalids, sent to the
South with the advice that they should
60 shooting. to come back restored il
health. The man who combines hunt.
ing in tho field with horseback riding
as is done in the South, has tho bcs,
kind of outdoor recreation. Field
sports are Tor young men; the Older
ones must be content with fishing OF
following the rabbit / recall the casl
Of the veteran writer for the sporting
papers, Horace Smith. While yet ,
young man he was given up by hi.
physician to die Of consumption. III,
was in business, and his doctor tolt
him that he had better stop work ant
devote the remainder Of his life TO hi,
dog and gun. Mr.. Smith acted on til,
suggestion. and am willing to admi
that possibly the doctor advised better
than he knew, for this same young mar
died only recently at the age Of eighty
In the sporting papers, to which h
was q constant and valuable con
tributor. he constantly made publ,
the fact that he attributed his restore,
health to exercises taken in tho field .
Dr.. s. r. Spicr. in Epoch.
| Sharpshooters in Mexico.
| The victories won by the United State
troops in Mexico years ago have gen
orally been ascribed to the superio
fighting qualities Of the Americans owe
the Mexicans. But Captain Lester
Bartlett of the Spencer Rifle Company
who was recently in Mexico, mentione
this theory: IAN old Mexican soldic
told me that it was the American sharp
shooters that broke up their troops. Al
over Mexico you find what are calle
/ sHI1nvy q vI~n& II